Torsional fretting wear of a biomedical Ti6Al7Nb alloy for nitrogen ion implantation in bovine serum

Ti6Al7Nb is a high-strength titanium alloy used in replacement hip joints that possesses the excellent biocompatibility necessary for surgical implants. Ti6Al7Nb treated with nitrogen gas (N₂) plasma immersion ion implantation–deposition (PIII–D) was investigated. Torsional fretting wear tests of untreated and nitrogen-ion-implanted Ti6Al7Nb alloys against a Zr₂O ball (diameter 25.2 mm) were carried out under simulated physiological conditions (serum solution) in a torsional fretting wear test rig. Based on the analyses of the frictional kinetics behavior, the observation of 3D profiles, SEM morphologies and surface composition analyses, the damage characteristics of the surface modification layer and its substrate are discussed in detail. The influence of nitrogen ion density on the implantation and torsional angular displacement amplitudes were investigated. The results indicated that ion implantation layering can improve resistance to torsional fretting wear and thus has wide potential application for the prevention of torsional fretting damage in artificial implants. The damage mechanism prevented by the ion implantation layer on the Ti6Al7Nb alloy is a combination of oxidative wear, delamination and abrasive wear. An increase in ion implantation concentration inhibited detachment by delamination.     

Fretting wear of carburized titanium alloy against ZrO2 under serum lubrication

Fretting wear of carburized titanium alloys was investigated on the universal multifunctional tester (UMT) with the ball-on-flat fretting style under bovine serum lubrication. The tangential load and friction coefficient during the fretting process were analyzed, and the evolution of fretting log during the fretting process was investigated to understand the wear mechanism of the titanium alloy and carburized titanium alloy. Furthermore, the wear scar was examined using a SEM and three-dimension surface profiler. It was found that the friction coefficient of the titanium alloy increased faster than that of carburized titanium alloy in the first stage under serum lubrication, and then remained steady with a similar value in the second stage. The Ft-D curve indicated that there was wear mechanism transition from gross slip to mixed stick and slip. Finally, it was observed that there was a slight damage of the titanium alloy and carburized titanium alloy showed excellent performance during the fretting wear process under serum lubrication. All of the results suggested that carburized titanium alloy was a potential candidate for the stem material in artificial joints.     

The improvement of wettability,biotribological behavior and corrosion resistance of titanium alloy pretreated by thermal oxidation

The thermal oxidation process was performed on biomedical titanium alloys to improve surface properties for the application in artificial cervical disc. The pretreated Ti6Al4V was characterized with XPS, XRD and SEM. The wettability, biotribological behavior and corrosion resistance were evaluated under distilled water and 25 wt% bovine serum lubricant. Rutile TiO₂ as the main compound was formed with the increase in hardness. The wettability was improved significantly after oxidation. Compared with the untreated, the friction coefficients and wear volumes of treated samples all decreased with about 50% reduction in both dry sliding and lubrication conditions. Corrosion resistance for oxidized samples was also enhanced with a big reduction of corrosion current density and a shift in corrosion potential towards the positive direction.     

钛合金微弧氧化层的摩擦学性能研究

利用微弧氧化技术在Ti6Al4V合金表面制备了富含钙、磷的多孔氧化陶瓷层,研究了微弧氧化层表面形貌、组成及摩擦学性能。研究结果表明,随着电压的升高,氧化层表面微孔孔径、粗糙度和Ca、P元素含量增大,显微硬度增大。25%小牛血清润滑条件下的微弧氧化层与ZrO2陶瓷球的摩擦学实验表明,微弧氧化层的摩擦因数高于Ti6Al4V钛合金,但磨损率明显降低,表明微弧氧化Ti6Al4V合金具有良好的耐磨性能。     

Achieving High Tribological Performance of Graphite-like Carbon Coatings on Ti6Al4V in Aqueous Environments by Gradient Interface Design

A duplex treatment involving nitrogen ion pre-implantation and gradient interfacial transition was performed to obtain a high-performance graphite-like carbon (GLC) coating on a Ti6Al4V alloy. Characteristics of the as-deposited coating systems were systemically investigated by Raman spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, nano-indentation, and scratch tests. The friction and wear behaviors in distilled water and sea water environments were evaluated by a ball-on-disk tribometer. The results showed that the GLC multilayer coating on nitrogen ion-implanted Ti6Al4V possessed a greater hardness and adhesion strength than to that on un-implanted Ti6Al4V. The tribological performances of these duplex process systems showed a great improvement in both the distilled water and sea water environments. In particular, the Cr/CrN/GLC coatings on nitrogen ion-implanted substrates demonstrated the best friction and wear behaviors. These striking improvements were attributed to the greatly enhanced interface strength between substrate and coating by the nitrogen ion implantation process and improved adhesion strength between gradient layers by the appropriate gradient interlayers with a similar thermal expansion coefficient.     

Biotribological properties of Ti/TiB2 multilayers in simulated body solution

Ti/TiB₂ multilayers with various modulation ratios were prepared by magnetron sputtering on biomedical titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. The tribological properties of the multilayers sliding against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene under lubrication with Hank׳s solution were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the tribological properties strongly depended on the modulation ratios of multilayers. The coefficient of friction of multilayers with a modulation ratio of 1:5 was 0.1, a reduction by 28.6%; the wear volume loss of UHMWPE decreased by almost one order of magnitude compared to that of Ti6Al4V alloy, exhibiting excellent anti-friction and anti-wear properties. The oxidation wear of Ti6Al4V alloy could be restrained effectively and converted to abrasion wear and/or adhesive wear by the laminate structures in the multilayers, suggesting that this material may serve as a potential candidate for the surface modification of artificial joints.     

Mo离子注入提高TC4合金微动磨损抗力的研究

对TC4合金进行了Mo离子注入表面改性处理,利用摩擦磨损试验机进行了点接触微动磨损试验,借助读数显微镜和表面粗糙度仪测量出有关参数,计算出试样的微动磨损体积。结果表明,Mo离子注入使试样表面硬度提高,微动磨损体积明显降低。在微动磨损初期,Mo离子注入具有较好的减摩效果。Mo离子注入带来的表面强化效应是基体合金的微动磨损抗力得以提高的主要原因。     

Influence of Calf Serum on Fretting Behaviors of Ti–6Al–4V and Diamond-Like Carbon Coating for Neck Adapter–Femoral Stem Contact

Influences of newborn calf serum on the fretting behaviors of Ti–6Al–4V and diamond-like carbon coating were investigated using a fretting-wear test rig with a cylinder-on-flat contact. The results indicated that, for the Ti–6Al–4V/Ti–6Al–4V contact, the friction coefficients were high (0.8–1.2) and the wear volumes presented an increase with the increase in the displacement amplitude under dry laboratory air conditions. Under serum-liquid conditions, the Ti–6Al–4V/Ti–6Al–4V contact presented significantly larger wear volumes under the displacement of ±?40 µm; however, it presented significantly lower friction coefficients (0.25–0.35) and significantly smaller wear volumes under the displacement of ±?70 µm. For the DLC coating/Ti–6Al–4V contact, the coating response wear maps could be divided into two areas: the coating working area (low normal force conditions) and the coating failure area (high normal force conditions). In the coating working area, the DLC coating could protect the substrate with low friction, low wear volume, and mild damage in the coating. The presence of serum had a positive influence on the tribological performance of the DLC coating. Furthermore, the positive influence was more significant under larger displacement amplitudes condition.     

试验参数对人工滑液边界润滑条件下超高分子量聚乙烯/Ti6Al4V往复摩擦磨损行为的影响

采用自行研制的往复摩擦磨损试验机,在法向载荷50 N、往复频率1 Hz、摩擦副接触形式为圆环外圆周/平面、初始线接触长度为6 mm、相对湿度为80%的试验条件下,研究了钛合金表面粗糙度、试验环境温度、试验延续时间、滑液成分等试验参数对UHMWPE/Ti6A14V摩擦副的往复摩擦磨损行为的影响.结果表明,这些试验参数均显著影响UHMWPE/Ti6A14V摩擦副的往复摩擦磨损行为;在环境温度20℃、25%小牛血清去离子水溶液边界润滑、180 min往复摩擦磨损试验条件下,当钛合金表面粗糙度由Ra0.04 μm增加至Ra0.06μm时,摩擦副的平均摩擦因数由0.033增加至0.096,UHMWPE试样磨损量由0.131 mm3,增加至0.149 mm3;在钛合金表面粗糙度为Ra0.06μm、25%小牛血清去离子水溶液边界润滑、180 min往复摩擦磨损试验条件下,当试验环境温度由10℃上升至37℃时,摩擦副的平均摩擦因数由0.135减少至0.077,UHMWPE试样磨损量由0.188 mm3减少至0.134 mm3.     

Fretting corrosion behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V/PMMA contact in simulated body fluid

Abstract

The fretting corrosion of a Ti–6Al–4V flat in contact with a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) ball in 0·9 wt-% NaCl solution was investigated using a fretting rig operating under electrochemical control. The effect of potential and of normal load on friction, wear and electrochemical response was studied under gross slip regime. No noticeable mechanical deterioration of the Ti–6Al–4V surface could be observed. At anodic potential, alloy corrosion was only slightly enhanced by fretting. Wear of PMMA was large and controlled by third body formation. A correlation between PMMA wear coefficient and thickness of third body was observed.     

脂肪醇对Ti6Al4V/钢摩擦副摩擦磨损性能的影响

采用SRV型摩擦磨损试验机分别考察了Ti6Al4V/钢摩擦副在多种脂肪醇润滑下的摩擦磨损性能。结果表明,与液体石蜡相比,碳链长度小于碳8的脂肪醇作为Ti6Al4V/钢摩擦副的润滑剂表现出良好的润滑性能,其润滑机制是在Ti6Al4V磨损表面形成吸附膜。载荷和频率明显影响Ti6Al4V/钢摩擦副在脂肪醇润滑下的摩擦磨损行为和摩擦磨损机制:当载荷较小时,Ti6Al4V磨损表面主要发生轻微的擦伤;随着载荷增加,Ti6Al4V磨损表面擦伤严重并在更高载荷下发生较为严重犁沟和塑性变形。     

生物医用钛合金TiN涂层微磨粒磨损及耐蚀性初步研究

对生物医用Ti6Al4V合金表面TiN涂层机械力学性能进行了研究,在分析力学性能的基础上,考察了TiN涂层在蒸馏水和Hank’s模拟体液中的耐磨性,并在Hank’s模拟人体体液中研究了TiN涂层在静态环境中的腐蚀行为。结果表明:在Ti6Al4V合金表面沉积TiN涂层后,其耐磨性和耐蚀性大大提高,有利于改善钛合金在人体环境中的使用寿命。     

The Tribological Behavior of a Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb Alloy Under Liquid Paraffine Lubrication

The tribological behavior of a Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy prepared by hot-pressed sintering was investigated under liquid paraffine lubrication against AISI 52100 steel ball in ambient environment and at varying loads and sliding speeds. For comparison, the tribological behavior of a common Ti-6Al-4V alloy was also examined under the same testing conditions. The worn surfaces of the two alloys were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The friction coefficient of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy in the range of 0.13–0.18 was significantly lower than that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy (0.4–0.5), but comparable to that under dry sliding, which indicated that TiAl intermetallics could be more effectively lubricated by liquid paraffine than titanium alloys. Applied load and sliding speed have little effect on the friction coefficient of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy. The wear rate of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy was about 45–120 times lower than that of Ti-6Al-4V alloy owing to Ti-6Al-4V alloy could not be lubricated effectively. The wear rate of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy increased with increasing applied load, but decreased slightly at first and then increased with increasing sliding speed. The wear mechanism of the Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb intermetallics under liquid paraffine lubrication was dominated by main plowing and slight flaking-off, but that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy was plastic deformation and severe delamination.     

Enhanced wear resistance of Ti-5Al-2Nb-1Ta orthopaedic alloy by nitrogen ion implantation

The tribological properties of nitrogen implanted Ti-5Al-2Nb-1Ta orthopaedic alloy was studied by performing lubricated pin on disc tests against ultra high molecular weight polyethylene pins. The results were interpreted on the basis of friction coefficient, wear volume loss and by characterising the wear debris to understand the wear mechanism. The results indicated a decrease in wear rate for implanted samples. Detailed investigations of the dose dependence on wear performance were carried out. The friction and wear data show a clear transition in wear modes between implanted and unimplanted alloys. The wear debris confirms the presence of titanium oxide and titanium oxynitride phases for untreated and nitrogen implanted alloy.     

DLC多层膜对1Cr1 8Ni9Ti钢微动磨损性能的影响

用非平衡磁控溅射与等离子体源离子注入（PSII）的混合技术，研究了类金刚石碳（DLC）多层膜对1Cr18Ni9Ti钢微动磨损性能的影响。结果表明：注入N后，改性层内形成了CrN和Fe3N等氮化物相；PSII技术能够提高1Cr18Ni9Ti钢基体的微动磨损性能；试验所制备的DLC多层膜比N注入层具有更好的微动磨损性能。     

Ti6Al4V/WC-Co干摩擦性能研究

利用Optimal SRV高温摩擦磨损试验机,研究干摩擦条件下钛合金(Ti6Al4V)对硬质合金(WC-Co)的摩擦学性能.研究了载荷、温度与滑动速度对摩擦过程的影响,通过磨损区微观形貌表征分析了磨损机理.结果表明:Ti6Al4V与WC-Co的摩擦系数波动剧烈,产生了严重的黏滑摩擦,且随着载荷、温度与滑动速度的增加,黏...     

Sliding wear behaviour of ion implanted ultra high molecular weight polyethylene against a surface modified titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V

A study has been made of the sliding wear behaviour of untreated and ion implanted ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) against a surface modified titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) using a pin on disc apparatus. It was found that the presence of water lubrication and a very smooth counterface was necessary to maintain low wear rates of the UHMWPE. A ‘zero wear’ effect was observed when nitrogen implanted UHMWPE was tested against very smooth counterfaces (R_a ≈ 0.03 μm) of either surface oxidized or nitrogen implanted Ti-6Al-4V under water lubrication. The enhanced mechanical and physical properties of the surface treated materials are believed to be responsible for the improved wear performance.     

高速切削Ti6Al4V钛合金时切削温度的试验研究

应用硬质合金刀具对Ti6Al4V钛合金材料进行了高速车削和高速铣削试验,研究分析了干切削、空气射流及氮气射流条件下的切削温度变化情况。研究结果表明,氮气射流及空气射流条件下的切削温度明显低于干切削条件下的切削温度,而氮气射流条件下的钛合金高速切削温度则略低于空气射流条件下的切削温度。     

电场对WC-Co/Ti6Al4V摩擦磨损性能的影响

为了研究电场对摩擦副摩擦磨损性能的影响,在自行设计的高速摩擦磨损试验装置上,进行了WC-Co/Ti6Al4V摩擦副的摩擦磨损试验。结果表明：断开摩擦副热电回路可以有效地减小热电流对WC-Co/Ti6Al4V摩擦副摩擦磨损的影响,静电冷却环境下形成的强电场的效果更加明显,在抑制摩擦副磨损的同时还可以改善
Ti6Al4V磨损表面质量。通过扫描电镜及EDS能谱分析可知,静电冷却条件下的列宾捷尔效应削弱了钛合金的黏着能力,从而有效地减小了WC-Co的黏着磨损;WC-Co在高速摩擦时主要以黏着磨损、氧化磨损为主,同时伴有微裂纹的产生。
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Influence of tightening procedures and lubrication conditions on titanium screw joints for lightweight applications

In recent years, the need for lighter vehicles led to the widespread of lightweight alloys, such as titanium, also in the field of threaded fasteners. Unluckily, the replacement of steel bolts with titanium ones, usually suggested because of their favourable ratio between strength and weight, is not quite straightforward. The coefficient of friction, a key parameter in bolted joints design, changes drastically when switching from steel to titanium. Some results concerning the frictional behaviour of bolted joints involving titanium screws are here presented: friction and torque coefficients were calculated, according to ISO 16047, for joints made up of a hexagon socket head screw made of titanium alloy (Ti–6Al–4V), a bush made of aluminium alloy (EN AW 7075 T6) and a steel nut (ISO 4032). Data were collected by performing several tightening tests on ad-hoc designed specimens, which allowed the evaluation of the different tribological behaviour of the same joint under three different conditions of lubrication (dry, Teflon^® added oil, and ceramic paste). 20 repeated tightenings (re-tightenings) have been analysed in order to simulate some maintenance operations. The DOE method was applied to manage the tests, while the results were analysed by the ANOVA and P-value methods. Out of the two lubricants examined, the ceramic paste showed the best results in terms of friction coefficients constancy throughout the re-tightening operations, as well as the best protection of the thread and underhead surfaces against wear.